Piano-violin.



A. KELLER. PIANO.VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FlLED JAN. P9, 19H.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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A. KELLER.

PIANO VIOLIN.

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Q/zzzv XM YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON KELLER, OF WEST NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY.

PIANO-VIOLIN.

Application filed January 19, 1914.

To all whom t may concern Be it known thatl I, ANTON KELLER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at West New York, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Violins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to piano violins, and among other objects of the present improvement is the provision of an improved musical instrument of this kind in which each string carrying member forms its own sound board 'or box and in which each string carrying member together with its string may be readily detached for repairs or otherwise, and in which also the strings may be readily adjusted for tuning, and in which also the bow may be readily supplied with rosin and in which the bow is accurately guided so that it will have the desired effect upon the strings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front view of-this improved musical instrument with a part of the casing broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken in line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in line 3 3, Fig. 1; and Fig. l is a detail view enlarged with a part thereof broken away, illustrating one of the string boxes or carrying members.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The casing 2 of the instrument may be of any suitable form and design', but in the present instance it resembles that of a piano and is provided with the usual number of keys 8. Each of these keys is pivotally supported between its ends, such pivotal support being nearer to the rear end than the front end, and each of these keys is so formed that it is weighted, thatis to say, its rear end may be formed of metal whereby when the key is depressed the weighted rear end thereof will quickly return it to its normal position and although springs may be used I have found the construction of keys shown preferable for the Vreason that the weighted rear end of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Serial No. 812,897.

key materially assists in returning the string and its box to its norma-l position.

Supported in the casing is a series of string carrying members 4, one for each string, the number of strings corresponding with the number of the keys. Each of these string carrying members is -pivotally supported at its lower end and for this purpose a member 5in the form of a bar is secured near the bottom of the piano case, and on this member the several string carrying boxes are pivotally supported, each having a recess or notch 6 of curved form into which the upper curved edge of the pivot bar extends, the boxes being supported ad- ]acent to their lower forward edge so that after they are swung forward their return will be effected by the weight of the box, in other. words, by gravity, a suitable cushion 7 being located at the upper portion of the rear of the casing to keep the boxes in proper alinement and to also receive the same when they return to their normal position and avoid jar. Each of these boxes is shown hollow and provided with an opening 8 whereby each in itself constitutes a sound box for the string 9 carried thereby, which string is secured to tuning pegs 10 and 11, the upper one being iii such position that it can be readily turned to tune the string. Each box is provided with a pair of felt bridges 12 and 13 over which the string passes. It will be observed that the bar 5 is of relatively narrow proportions, and that the notch 6 is comparatively small, so that each box is supported by what may be considered a knife edge pivot, and consequently the movement of each box is not retarded by any appreciable friction at the point of its support.

Each box is connected with a key of the piano and for this purpose it is provided with a pin 111 for the reception of the hooked end of a link 15, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a bell crank lever 1G suitably pivotally supported in position on a cross-rail 16 and the opposite end of which bell crank lever is pivotally secured to a bracket or stud 17 at the rear weighted end of the piano key, which in turn is pivotally supported in the manner hereinbefore stated. (ln depressing a key it will be observed that its box together' with its string will be drawn forward into a predetermined position and that on releasing the key the box, owing to the manner in which it is pivotally supported at its lower forward end and the manner of forming the key, will quickly return to its normal position.

Passing in front of the strings is a bow in the form of an endless band 1S supported by a pair of guide rolls 19, one at each end of the piano case. The guide roll at`the left hand end is carried by a shaft 20 suit ably journaled in brackets 21 secured to the side of the piano case, and on the lower end of this shaft is a pulley 22 for the reception of a driving belt 23 which passes around a pulley 2i carried by a fly wheel 25 to which fly wheel a crank pedal 26 is secured, whereby on operating the pedal the bow will be caused to travel according to the speed with which the pedal is operated, and by operating the keys the several strings will be drawn forward into engagement with the bow according to the piece of music to be played. It will be observed that the bow is located entirely forward of the strings and that by merely unhooking the key link l5 from the pin l-f any one of the boxes can be readily withdrawn from the instrument for repairs or otherwise without interfering with any other parts of the instrument, and this withdrawal can be effected through the top of the piano case which, as is well known, is a hinged board.

For suitably guiding the bow a series of fixedly supported guide-rolls 27 is carried by a fixed bar 28 with the rolls on the inner side of the inner run of the bow adjacent to the strings, these guide-rolls being so located that each string will come between a pair of rolls when the string is brought forward by its key. Thus these rolls properly maintain the bow in position. In practice only the two rolls adjacent to the strings being manipulated rotate, that is to say, all the rolls usually remain idle except the two adjacent to the string which is drawn forward, at which time, of course, the pressure against the bow causes the rolls to rotate.

For supplying rosin to the bow a suitable shiftable resin holder 29 is j irovided, it being secured to the bar 28, and it consists of a bracket having a U-shaped end to which the resin holder is pivotally secured and this rosin holder bracket may be shifted into position to engage the bow and if desired by clamping the screw which secures the bracket to the bar 28, may be left in such position. Also secured to the bar 28 is a bow tensioning device, it consisting of a swinging arm or bracket 30 carrying a roll on its end and which likewise may be clamped in any desired adjusted position.

Of course, it will be obvious that the boxes may be shifted forward on the depression of the keys in various ways as well as by the mechanical means shown, as for instance by pneumatic means if desired, and it will be understood that the various details may be more or less modified without dey parting from the spirit or scope of this improvement.

I claim as my invention:

l. ln a musical instrument, the combination of a case, a series of finger keys carried by said case, a series of hollow string-carrying boxes, one for each key, supported within said case and each having a substantially knife edge pivotal support at its lower forward edge whereby the weight of the box will assist the return thereof to its normal position, means for shifting forward each box on the operation of its key, an endless bow in position to enga-ge the strings on the shifting of the box, and means for operating said bow.

In a musical instrument, the combination of a case, a series of finger keys carried by said ease, a series of hollow string-carrying boxes, one for each key, supported within said case and each having a substantially knife edge pivotal support at its lower forward edge whereby the weight of the box will. assist the return thereof to its normal position, means for shifting forward each box on the operation of its key, an endless bow in position to engage the strings on the shifting of the box and having both runs thereof forwardly of the boxes, and means for operating said bow.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of a case, a lengthwise extending narrow member supported ed gewise within said case and forming a substantially knife edge pivotal support, a series of finger keys carried by said case, a series of hollow stringcarrying boxes, one for each key, mounted adjacent to their forward edges on said narrow member and extending at right angles to said keys whereby the weight of the boxes will assist in the return thereof to normal position, a bell-crank lever pivotally sup ported between each key and vits stringcarrying box and having one arm thereof connected to said key, a lilik connection between the other arm of said lever and said box, an endless bow in position to'engage the strings on the operation of said keys and having both runs thereof forwardly of the boxes, and pedal mechanism for operating said bow.

4:. In a musical instrument, the combina tion of a case, a lengthwise extending narrow member supported edgewise within said case and forming a substantially knife edge pivotal support, a series of horizontal finger keys carried by said case, a series of hollow string-carrying boxes, one for each key, mounted adjacent to their forward edges on said narrow member and extending at right angles to said keys, said narrow member and boxes having one a groove for the reception of the other, cushioning members on the back of said case on which said boxes normally rest, means for shifting forward each box on the operation of its key, an

- endless bow in position to engage the strings on the shifting forward of the boxes and having both runs thereof forwardly of the boxes, and means for operating said bow.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination of a ease having a series of cushioning members at its upper portion adjacent to the rear wall thereof, a lengthwise extending narrow member supported edgewise within said case and forming a substantially knife edge pivotal support, a series of horizontal finger keys carried by said case, a series of hollow string-carrying boxes, one for each key, mounted adjacent to their forward edges on said narrow member and extending at right angles to said keys whereby the weight of said boxes will assist in returning the boxes to normal position with their rear edges in ,Contact with said cushioning members, a bell-crank lever pivotally supported between each key and its stringcarrying box and having one arm thereof connected to said key, a link pivotally connected to the other arm of said lever and removably connected to said box, an endless bow in position to engage the strings on the operation of said keys and having both runs thereof forwardly of the boxes, and pedal mechanism for operating said bow.

(5. ln a musical instrument, the combination of a case, a series of finger keys carried by said oase, a series of detachable hollow string-Carrying boxes, one for each key, mounted within the case adjacent to their forward edges at right angles to said keys whereby the weight of the boxes will assist in the return thereof to normal position, a lengthwise extending narrow member supported edgewise within said case and forming a substantially knife edge pivotal support for said string-carrying boxes, a bellcrank lever pivotally supported between each key and its string-carrying box and having one arm thereof connected to said key, a link pivotally connected to the other arm of said lever and provided at its opposite end with an open-ended slot, a pin carried by each of said string-carrying boxes for engagement with the slot of said link, an endless bow in position to engage the strings on the operation of said keys and having both runs thereof forwardly of the boxes, and means for operating said bow.

ANTON KELLER.

/'Vitnesses F. E. BoYon, YV. L. BAKELAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

